Richard Peck (writer) - Writer

Writer

Peck writes exclusively on a typewriter, described here in 'Publishers Weekly:

When the author is not traveling, he works at an L-shaped desk, which affords a sunny window. He writes everything on an electric typewriter because"it has to be a book from the first day," he explains. He has no daily routine because of all the traveling he does, but follows a very disciplined writing process. He writes each page six times, then places it in a three-ring binder with a DePauw University cover ("a talisman," he calls this memento from his alma mater). When he feels that he has gotten a page just right, he takes out another 20 words. "After a year, I've come to the end. Then I'll take this first chapter, and without rereading it, I'll throw it away and write the chapter that goes at the beginning. Because the first chapter is the last chapter in disguise." He always hands in a completed manuscript, and his editor is his first reader.

Although Peck finds a way to connect to readers around the world, he refuses to embrace new technology. He still types his material on a typewriter. He has also written two books that have a tech-savvy setting.

Peck believes each book should be a question, not an answer. He also believes that before anything else can happen a book needs to be entertaining. He is the author of many award-winning novels.

His collected papers written between 1972 and 1991 reside at The University of Southern Mississippi.